Quinzi’s confectionery has been loved by South Australians for generations. Behind the colourful sweets, chocolate treats, and the popular Triple Choc Almonds is a family story that started with a search for the perfect sugared almond.
Today, Quinzi’s Confectionery in Stepney brings together generations of confectionery experience as a proud South Australian family business. The company is also committed to creating opportunities for people with disability.
From a gift store to a family confectionery
The Quinzi’s story began in 1974, when Emidio Quinzi worked in a gift store and struggled to source quality sugared almonds, traditionally used as bomboniere at Italian celebrations.
Unable to find the quality he wanted, Emidio travelled to Italy to learn the craft himself. He returned to Australia with the skills to make traditional sugared products and, in 1977, established Quinzi’s Confectionery.
His son Joe grew up helping in the family business. After high school, he spent nine months in Naples training as a pastry chef. When he returned to Australia, he realised his true passion was still confectionery. He joined Arnott’s Mottram Menz and spent four years working in chocolate manufacturing and other areas of confectionery production.
When Joe had the chance to return to his father’s factory, he took it. He became a qualified confectioner and eventually took over the business as Emidio prepared to retire. In 1996, Joe’s wife Antonetta joined him, bringing over ten years of retail experience to the family business.
In 2009, a new factory was built on the original site, giving the growing business a fresh start. Today, Quinzi’s is a proud South Australian company that supplies a wide range of chocolate-coated and sugar-coated confectionery to customers all over Australia. They also work with national brands to develop new products.
At the Stepney store, visitors can find everything from sugared and pearlised almonds to chocolate-coated treats, popping candy, orange jellies, and a variety of milk, dark, and white chocolates. You can also sample the range before buying and maybe find a new favourite.
Triple Choc Almonds are Quinzi’s most popular treat, but there are many other options for anyone with a sweet tooth. Whether you want something for yourself or a gift for someone else, there’s plenty to choose from.
Quinzi’s also has gift boxes and options for both personal and corporate occasions, making it a great place to find something unique.
An inclusive employer from the early days
For nearly thirty years, inclusive employment has been part of Quinzi’s story. The business is still dedicated to creating opportunities for people with disability. Two years after Joe and Antonetta took over, Ling joined the team through Barkuma. Twenty-eight years later, he is still with Quinzi’s.
Joe remembers how the relationship began.
“Starting as a small business was hard. We didn’t have much money, and we needed help. Then Adam from Barkuma came knocking at our door about a job for Ling.”
As with any new arrangement, the early days had their challenges. Joe and the Quinzi’s team learned as they went, finding an approach that worked for everyone.
Today, three people supported by Barkuma work with the rest of the Quinzi’s team. As a small business, Quinzi’s values employees who can help in different areas of the factory. This flexibility gives staff the chance to learn new skills and contribute in many ways.
For Quinzi’s, inclusive employment means recognising what people can offer and making sure they have the right opportunities and support to succeed.
Hear more from Joe
Joe will talk about Quinzi’s experience with inclusive employment at Barkuma’s Inclusive Employment Morning Tea on Tuesday 27 October, along with other employer partners and an employee speaker.
Tuesday 27 October | 9.30 am–11.30 am
CPA Australia, Level 10, 420 King William Street, Adelaide
Hear real stories about inclusive employment and see how it could work in your own workplace.
Find out more and register for the Inclusive Employment Morning Tea
Register Now
What 40 years have taught us
For 40 years, Barkuma has been supporting people with disability into employment. We were the first provider in South Australia to deliver specialised employment services for people with developmental disability.
Our long partnership with Quinzi’s shows how inclusive employment can become a natural part of a workplace. It creates opportunities for people with disability and brings skills, experience, and stability to a business.
After nearly thirty years, the partnership between Barkuma and Quinzi’s continues to show what can happen when employers are open to creating opportunities and helping people succeed at work.